F/A-18 Hornet [REVIEW + SPECS] | Defence Database
  
F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft
Posted by: Andrei Dcs

F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop.

Author: US Air Force
Wikimedia Source: [link]
Main Source: [link]
F/A-18 Hornet - General Data and Specifications:
Type Carrier-based multirole fighter
Place of Origin United States of America
Service Period and Status 1 July 1984 (USN)
7 January 1984 (USMC)
In service
Manufacturer and Builders McDonnell Douglas (1974–1997)
with Northrop (1974–1994)
Boeing (1997–present)
Program & Unit Cost Unit cost:
US$29 million (F-18C/D) (2006)
Number Built F/A-18A/B/C/D: 1,480
Related Projects Northrop YF-17
McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet
High Alpha Research Vehicle
Dezvoltat în Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Boeing X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing
First Flight 18 November 1978
Mass / Weight Empty weight:
23,000 lb / 10,433 kg

Gross weight:
36,970 lb / 16,769 kg

Max takeoff weight:
51,900 lb / 23,541 kg
Length 56 ft 1 in / 17.1 m
Height 15 ft 5 in / 4.7 m
crew F/A-18A/C: 1 (pilot)
F/A-18B/D: 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer)
Wingspan 40 ft 4 in / 12.3 m with AIM-9 Sidewinders on wingtip LAU-7 launchers

32 ft 7 in / 9.94 m with wings folded
Wing Area 410 sq ft / 38 m2
Wing Loading 93 lb/sq ft / 450 kg/m2
Aspect Ratio 4
Airfoil Wing root:
NACA 65A005 mod.

Wing tip:
NACA 65A003.5 mod.
Powerplant 2 × General Electric F404-GE-402 afterburning turbofan engines
Thrust Dry thrust:
11,000 lbf / 49 kN each

Thrust with afterburner:
17,750 lbf / 79.0 kN each
Fuel Capacity 10,860 pounds / 4,930 kg internally
Speed Max. speed at high altitude (40,000 ft / 12,000 m):
Mach 1.8 / 1,034 kn / 1,190 mph / 1,915 km/h

Cruise speed:
574 kn / 660 mph / 1,062 km/h
Operational Range Range:
1,089 nmi / 1,253 mi / 2,017 km

Ferry range:
1,800 nmi / 2,071 mi / 3,334 km
Service Ceiling 50,000 ft / 15,000 m
Rate of Climb 50,000 ft/min / 250 m/s
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio 0.96 (1.13 with loaded weight at 50% internal fuel)